Curtain track



Feb. 11, 1941.

E. ,1. VALLEN CURTAIN TRACK Filed. Aug. 19, 1938 INVENTOR EARL J. (ALLEN ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PA ENT oFFlcE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to curtain tracks such as are used on stages, prosceniums or the like or 211 association with moving picture screens, for curtains of the type which are extended from 5 the sides to overlapped relation at the center of the stage and are drawn to the sides of the stage when opened.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a curtain track having travelling curtain hangers thereon, the track and hangers being so formed as to provide a light but strong and eliective curtain support, the hangers travelling along the track noiselessly and with minimum friction and without binding upon the track, the hangers being self-centering in correct operative relation to the track and resisting any tendency to become cocked or tilted or to slap or whip against any part of the track.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a track and associated supporting brackets so formed that the brackets may be readily adjusted along the track for atachment to beams, rafters or other supports above the stage opening regardless of the arrangement of such beams, rafters or other supports. The track being also adjustable along the brackets when fixed to center a track accurately over a stage opening.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide brackets of the type referred to in the preceding paragraph and which are adapted to have atached thereto suspension cables or the like for supporting a curtain track above a stage or proscenium opening.

The foregoing and other purposes of the invention are attained in the curtain track illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described below. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form thereof shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a curtain track embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of such track with associated hangers; and

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals Ill and II indicate generally two sections of curtain track which are overlapped at the center as shown and which will be of the required length to extend to the sides of a stage or the like as will be understood. The sections l and II may be secured to each other by suitable cross-pieces l2 and I3.

At one end of the sectional track l0--ll there are the usual cable-pulleys l4 and I5 and at the other end the usual pulley It for extending cable I! along both track sections and down to operating means at one side of the stage opening. This is standard and well-known equipment in this field and when the cable is pulled one way 5 the curtains (not shown) are opened and when pulled the other way the curtains are closed. The inner ends of the track sections l0 and Il may carry guiding sleeves such as indicated at l8 through which the cable I! extends to prevent 10 whipping and fraying of the cable against the ends of the track sections.

' The track sections are identical in section and preferably comprise an integral structure composed of two channel-beams l9 and 20 secured together back to back as by welding or otherwise. Channel I9 is preferably formed with inwardly turned upper flanges 2!, 2! so as to receive and slidably retain therein brackets 22, 22. Brackets 22 may comprise two pieces of stiff, rigid, sheet metal bolted together in spaced relation through spacer sleeves 23 and formed with outwardly turned lower flanges 24, 24 for engaging under flanges 2| (see Figure 2) and formed with outwardly extending upper flanges 25, 25 in which may be apertures 26, 26 for screws, bolts or other fastening means for securing said brackets to wooden, metal or other overhead beams, rafters or other supports above a stage opening. It will be apparent that brackets 30 22 can be adjusted to any position along track IEI-l I as required by sliding the same to such positions along the groove or slot of channel it to coincide with overhead supports and also it will be apparent that the whole track or either section may be adjusted along these brackets when secured to adjust the track accurately to a central position respecting the stage opening. The spacer sleeves 23 provide effective means whereby brackets 22 may optionally be used for 4 adjustably connecting suspending cables 21 to the curtain track, the brackets being adjustable to align with the overhead supports of the cables 21.

The lower channel 20 preferably is formed with upwardly tapered side walls 28, 28 and with lower outwardly turned rail flanges 29, 29, the latter preferably being connected to the walls 20 by upwardly curved portions at 30, 3t.

Arranged on the track sections [IL-H are floating curtain hangers 3|, having supporting rollers 3|, 3N, and master curtain hangers such as indicated at 32, these being similar to hangers 3| excepting that the master hangers 32 have four wheels 32 32 for rolling along the track whereas floating hangers 3| may have only two. The master hangers 32 are also suitably secured to the cable ll whereas the floating hangers 3| are not.

The hangers all are constructed with brackets such as indicated at 3| (see Figure 2) having upwardly extending spaced arms 33, 33 on which are secured independent shafts 34, 34 for rollers 3| and 32 which are freely rotatable on said shafts and which preferably are of semi-hard vulcanized rubber so as to move noiselessly over the track. Below the track the hangers are each formed with an eye 36 in which may be secured a Vulcanized rubber sleeve 31 through which cable I! extends, the hangers thus supporting the cable stretches against Whipping about or sagging, and the cable moving noiselessly through the floating hangers. The sleeve 31 projects suificiently at both sides of each hanger so as to provide rubber bumpers whereby the hangers will move silently into contact with each other when the curtains are drawn. It will be observed that sleeves 37 preferably are of such length as to prevent the rollers of adjoining hangers from coming in contact and being held from revolving on the track. The curtains (not shown) may be suspended from the hangers by attachment to the bottoms thereof as by string or rope indicated at 38 extended through an aperture 39 in the bottom of each hanger. These connectors 383 permit taking up or adjusting the curtains to stage conditions and to compensate for stretching of the curtains under their own weight.

When the track is to be secured to overhead beams, rafters, or like supports, it will be raised to required position and brackets 22 will be slid along channel L9 as required for attachment to the beams or rafters. After the brackets are secured to the beams or rafters, thetrack may be shifted as may be required accurately to center the track respecting a stage opening.

If the track is to be suspended by cables, these are attached (see cables 21) to brackets 22 which are slid along channel l9 as required to align the brackets with the overhead cable supports (not shown).

It will be apparent that the hangers cannot cock or tilt in such a way as to bind on track channel 20 and tend always to move toward a true free-running position as shown in Figure 2. This is because of the upwardly tapered form of the channel walls 28 and the curved portions 30 between these walls and rails 29.

The independently mounted rollers 3M and 32, on hangers 3| and 32, respectively engaged in the outside rails 29 provide astrong effective free-rolling support for the curtains and strongly resist cocking or tilting out of line by gathering of the curtains and will not bind on the track or become bent out of line by shear stresses or the like therein.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Curtain track equipment comprising a member extending along the upper side of the track, said member having a pair of oppositely disposed flanges extending longitudinally thereof, and a plurality of track-supporting brackets, said brackets having pairs of oppositely disposed flanges for engaging under said flanges on said member to support the same, said brackets being freely shiftable along said member to various adjusted positions along the track structure for supporting said structure above a stage opening or the like.

2. Curtain track equipment comprising a member extending along the upper side of th track, said member having a pair of oppositely disposed in-turned flanges extending longitudinally thereof, and a plurality of track-supporting brackets, said brackets having pairs of oppositely disposed out-turned flanges for engaging under said flanges on said member to support the same, said brackets being freely shiftable along said member to various adjusted positions along the track structure for supporting said structure above a stage opening or the like.

EARL J. VALLEN. 

